Information and opinions on health from wonderwoman at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/362761/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/362761/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/362761/index http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/152443/ac Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:54:25 -0400 wonderwoman Hi Everyone.   Today was the day for the first Acetmtra Infusion. I went reluctanly and hopefully. After some extrem flaring of rib carltlidge recently I felt I had to jump into the Biologic pool, although my rheumy has been trying unsuccessfully to get me there for three years due to chronic infection.   The infusion centre was pleasant, the nurse was pleasant and helpful, I still my fears and sat while he found a vein, a bit of a... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/152443/ac http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/152215/tea Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:22:26 -0400 wonderwoman Two nights ago, I was happily sitting in my armchair and  reached for my cup of tea on a tabe beside me. Suddenly I felt something give in my back and a sharp pain. It was no too bad but began to build to extreme. So I  went into emergency pain management mode-   Double the tramadol, then add panadol, hey that rhymes.   Add a heat pack the  usje my electric massage device.   Nothinf wa helping much, then the... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/152215/tea http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/151879/la Fri, 06 Apr 2012 05:47:26 -0400 wonderwoman Something we learn very quickly when we first start driving, is that you steer the care in whatever direction you are looking.   And of course, don't reverse unless you are looking in the rear view mirror!   As  you drive past beautiful scenery, the temptation to look at the view is almost overwhelming.   It is important as you live with chronic illness, not to live in Ïf only" land. Ïf only" I had gone to the... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/151879/la http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/150627/pa Sat, 25 Feb 2012 13:12:27 -0500 wonderwoman I have a son with multiple disabilities and when he was young, [he is now 37],  I found that the most frustrating part of this situation was that he was assessed as being too intellectually retarded to fit well into the services provided by those who catered for his type of physical disability, and too physically disabled to fit well into the services provided by those who catered for his intellectual disability.   At first the... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/150627/pa http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/149575/op Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:20:14 -0500 wonderwoman I have just spent 10, yes 10 years battling chronic sinus infections. With some difficulty and aided by a letter from my rheumy, a doctor agreed to operate even though he was not sure it would help as he defined my constant sinus as a Rheumatoid reaction.   This was the first time a specialist had linked the ra and the sinus problem, it certainly shed some light on it as it had failed to respond to any of the various treatments I had... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/149575/op http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/149329/jo Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:35:49 -0500 wonderwoman I have had very painful wrists and hands for years with the right being more painful than the left even though I am left handed. Go figure that out.   Recently the right thumb joint which has always been very painful decided to go gangbusters at the same time as the outside right wrist joint.   I have been wearing a brace on it for weeks and waiting for a rheumy appointment, I will show her my new xray and wait on the results, that... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/149329/jo http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/147670/pr Sat, 03 Dec 2011 02:27:52 -0500 wonderwoman Grief comes in many shapes and sizes, put simply it is the emotion we feel when we lose something we value. This something can be a person, object, lifestyle, pet or many other things.  We may lose that valuable thing through death, sickness, financial loss, or simply the changes of life.   Grief takes time to process, there is no quick fix or pill that will cure it. To grieve is legitimate and necessary, if we don't allow ourselves... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/147670/pr http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/146874/big Mon, 14 Nov 2011 03:36:57 -0500 wonderwoman  I was recently encouraged by reading Lisa's sharepost about educating and not hating.  I have felt for some time that we all need reminding that as bad as our health issues are, others also have serious issues.  I  had never heard of Rheumatoid Arthritis before I had it, and when the doc gravely announced to me that I had it, it did not really register except as a thought of thank goodness it has a name.   Every... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/146874/big http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/144856/day Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:53:40 -0400 wonderwoman I greatly apprecciated Lene's recent post about comparing energy levels to a supply of spoons.   Recently my daughter had a new baby. This family live about three hours drive from me, a hug stretch on my energy levels,but they are my only grandchildren and I love to see them.   In order to keep up my relationship with them, I use up quite a few of my spoons to do this trip about every two months.   With the arrival of this... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/144856/day http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/143735/wh Tue, 06 Sep 2011 04:24:40 -0400 wonderwoman Well, I did it, after three years of indecision and procrastination, I bought an electric wheelchair, that separates into pieces to go in the back of a car.   I have mixed feelings, relief that If I want to, I can go on longer jaunts, sadness that it seems like a no turning back moment, and some concerns about my difficulty with lifting the pieces, which are a bit heavy and putting it back together, which requires some... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/362761/143735/wh